The Georgian government has authorized the removal of 9,688 protected plant species from state forests in Imereti as part of the construction of the 224 MW Gogni Wind Power Plant.
Government Decree No. 1466 grants Gogni Wind Company LLC the right to remove protected species from the Mukhuri and Terjola forests to facilitate the construction and operation of the project’s 220 kV overhead and 35 kV underground transmission lines, as well as a 220 kV substation.
The decree authorizes the removal of 7,533 common chestnut (Castanea sativa), 2,115 Colchian box (Buxus colchica), and 40 yew (Taxus baccata) trees, all of which are included in Georgia’s Red List of protected species.
The decree requires the company to store the harvested timber in an area designated by the National Forestry Agency before paying compensation for the removal of the protected plants. It must also carry out restoration measures corresponding to the number of Red List species removed within a specified timeframe.
Gogni Wind Company LLC is developing the 224 MW wind power project in Imereti. Archil Gachechiladze, CEO of the Bank of Georgia, holds a 90% stake in the project through AG Wind Power LLC, while businessman Emzar Gamezaradashvili owns the remaining 10% through EG LLC.
